Edible Christmas decorations have a long history and are a natural choice for the season. Consider pests, pets, and children when choosing decorations, and be mindful of potential health risks with raw egg-based frosting. Gingerbread houses are popular but should be made with pasteurized eggs.
Edible Christmas decorations are a wonderful way to liven up your home during the holidays. The tradition of decorating trees or halls with edible things predates the Christian adoption of the Christmas tree. Early Germanic groups often decorated winter trees with dead animals, perhaps not the most attractive decoration choice today. Still associating abundance with Christmas, it makes edible Christmas decorations a natural choice.
There are a few things to consider when choosing edible Christmas decorations. If Christmas is the season when ants or other pests typically visit your home, you may want to skip the truly edible decorations in favor of ones that look simply edible. Glass and ceramic ornaments in the shape of candy canes, gingerbread men, and the like are widely available. Just be sure to keep these inedible look-alikes away from kids who might think they’re the real deal. Make sure guests and small children look just real, and have some real cookies or candy canes on hand to hand out. Organize gum trees for party nights if you want to evoke some older traditions and have your guests eagerly picking these delicious modern plums.
Alternatively, get ready for the holiday season by spraying or bombing any bugs that may decide your edible decorations are an invitation to party. If you use things like roach motels, ant traps, or stakes, make sure they’re well out of reach of children. You can also choose edible Christmas decorations that aren’t particularly attractive to pests. Strings of brightly colored bell peppers can create a Southwestern Christmas scene in your home, and most ants steer clear of clove-stuffed oranges or tangerines (some don’t, so you’ll need to try a test garnish to see if your particular ant visitors avoid it).
Perhaps the most popular of the edible Christmas decorations is the gingerbread house. Here it is important to decide how edible the house is. Many of these houses use royal icing for decoration and to put the house together. Royal icing can pose a potential health risk since it’s usually made with raw egg whites, which can harbor salmonella. If you want guests to celebrate at your home, be sure to use pasteurized eggs to make the frosting. Also keep in mind that edible Christmas decorations have a shelf life. If you expect people to eat your gingerbread house, you should consider “serving” it a day or so after you’ve made it.
Another thing to consider is the placement of edible decorations. If you plan to use foods that may pose a risk to your pets, such as chocolate which can be toxic to dogs, make sure they are well out of Rover’s reach. You also don’t want your kids to gorge on too many candies on hand, so either make an “ask me first” rule or keep those candy canes and other goodies above attainable levels.
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